STARS MAILBAG: Let’s talk about expansion

For the Dallas Star there weren’t many surprises when the NHL revealed expansion protection lists this morning at 9:00, er, 9:30 a.m.

And Jim Nill handled his assets the same way I would have in this situation.

We have to remember the expansion draft is all bout asset management, and the Stars protected their most valuable assets (Jamie Benn, Tyler Seguin, John Klingberg) and those that have potential to become their most valuable assets in the future (Radek Faksa, Stephen Johns, Valeri Nichushkin).

With such a historical day, I thought it would be fitting to put together a special edition of the mailbag centered around expansion.

So let’s get started…

What are the realistic chances we ever see Nichushkin back in the NHL in a Stars Sweater?

With this group I would want to keep Fleury and Mrazek as my tandem in the NHL, while I would like to keep Subban and Ulmark as my AHL goaltenders. That would set up the ideal line of succession in the Vegas crease from Fleury to Mrazek and then to Subban or Ulmark, whichever one ultimately wins the job.

I would then work on flipping Pickard, Raanta, and Domingue to teams looking for help in goal and add more assets to my portfolio of draft picks.

I didn’t take Philipp Grubauer, who I really like, and I’ll explain why in a moment.

Grubauer, Schmidt. Can't pass up that goalie but couldn't Schmidt be a great fit in LV? Think they'll still go after Oshie?

With the other goalies I’m taking in my hypothetical situation, I couldn’t pass up taking Nate Schmidt.

I think he’ll be a very good fit in Vegas and he could be part of the long-term future on the blue line. The Golden Knights also have a ton of cap space and could sign the 25-year-old to a favorable long-term deal.

Who Defense & Forwards are all but locks to be on LV roster — too good to pass up and too good to flip?

I find it hard to believe that Matt Dumba won’t be part of the Vegas Golden Knights on opening night. He’s a 22-year-old right-handed defender and his development arc works well with Vegas’ realistic plan to compete within four seasons.

The Minnesota Wild could try and make a side deal with Vegas to protect Dumba, but without a first-round pick to trade it’s going to be difficult for the Wild.

There are good chances of that happening. In the regularly scheduled mailbag on Friday we discussed how Dan Hamhuis could be a viable asset in expansion for Vegas — not necessarily as a roster player, but as a veteran defender to be flipped at the trade deadline in 2018.

It really depends on how George McPhee views Cody Eakin. Is he a player that can bounce back? Or was last season an accurate snapshot of how he’ll play next season?

I don’t think the Stars have a side deal worked out with Vegas at this moment (I’m writing this at lunch time on Sunday). The feeling I got is that Jim Nill was waiting to see what other players are exposed from other teams and then looking to see if a deal could be swung to potentially land a player that way — possibly a defender.

If the Stars made a side deal to protect Hamhuis, what would they have to give up?

Throughout the season people close to the organization maintained that Cody Eakin had trade value, and if they wanted to move him they easily could of.

The fact he’s exposed tells me they were greatly mistaken and Eakin didn’t hold the value they expected. Yes, there are media types calling for him to be traded to Edmonton, and the Stars would have liked to move him for something of value, but a trade just wasn’t in the cards.

Matheson of EDM Journal keeps talking about Eberle for Eakin. Is this something at all in realm of possibility if Nill makes LV deal, etc.?

Everything has a price, but I think any chance of Jonas Brodin coming to Dallas has sailed. From my understanding the Stars were one of the teams to inquire about the defender and ultimately balked at the price.

Brodin is now on Minnesota’s protection list and they don’t have any plans of parting with him. If they do it will come at a price higher than the Stars are willing to pay.

are we going to try for Methot? He is exposed and would be great next to Klingberg

Marc Methot could be a nice fit on the left side with John Klingberg. He’s used to playing with Erik Karlsson, and Klingberg has a similar base skillset to the best defender on the planet.

That’s a good fit in theory, but we also have to remember that Klingberg isn’t Karlsson. Karlsson is an all-around defender. He plays in all situations and he’s proven he can put up 70-plus points a year while still blocking 200-plus shots in the same season.

The Stars have visions of Klinberg hitting that level, but it’s still a stretch at best for this season and he has to take major strides defensively.

Will Methot be as effective with Klingberg when he has to serve as a defensive anchor?

We also have to remember the cost will be high and that Methot is 31 years old. It might behoove the Stars to find a younger player that would be a better long-term option at a similar cost.

Who is the most likely player exposed from another team Dallas tries to make a move with Vegas for?

First I would give RFAs Radek Faksa and Esa Lindell raises. Then I would sign free agent winger Alexander Radulov for my top-six and defender Brendan Smith for depth on the blue line to play on my third pairing.

I also make sure I’ve got cap space open in case Nichushkin is a late defection back to the NHL.

Overall I’m making sure I’m smart with my money and so I’m not handcuffing myself when Tyler Seguin is due a raise after the 2018-19 season.

Might be too late, but any estimates/predictions for what Dallas's RFAs will sign for?

I believe the Ducks may have a deal in place with Vegas. They don’t have a first-round pick this year (it actually belongs to Dallas), but they could trade a future first rounder or present another package to Vegas to make sure they get to keep their choice of Vatanen or Manson.

How many points do you think put up Seguin and Ja.Benn next season if they both play 82 games ?